[RCitronsBroker]

as someone who’s also autism adjacent and content with it, let’s still recognize that it’s not called spectrum for nothing. Yes, one’s norm of "functioning" can be more dependent on society than you’re own opinion, but I’ve witnessed several individuals on the "lower functioning" end of the spectrum who really didn’t seem like they were content with the way they’re living life. I’m not infallible, but it definitely seemed that way.

[ModernMech]

At minimum we should center such people in these discussions rather than talk about them with pity or only when using them to advance a rhetorical point. I want to hear from people with the highest support needs on this issue the most.

[andrewflnr]

The ones with the highest support needs are non-verbal, so that's going to be tricky.

[ModernMech]

People who are nonverbal can still communicate. I did not mean hear in a literal sense.

Here is some literature for you to learn more about autism, particularly how to communicate with nonverbal people: https://www.healthpolicypartnership.com/reimagining-communic...